admin
01-17-2008, 07:05 PM
Begin by thanking Him for some little thing, and then go on, day by day, adding to your subjects of praise...until you see in everything some cause for thanksgiving. --Priscilla Maurice
God hears and answers every prayer.
Instead of asking God to change our situation, we should ask God to change us.
GRACE is a gift we receive from God.
God's word exhorts us to reach out to those with anxious hearts and let them know that we support and love them.
Trusting in God's unfaltering presence, believers can face every morning with hope.
We come to know the will of God for our lives by prayerfully reading and studying scripture and by reflecting on the wisdom scripture sheds upon our lives.
As faithful sowers, we trust God for the harvest.
************************************************** *********
NEVER ALONE
There is a legend about the "rite of passage" for Cherokee Indians. The father would blindfold his young son, take him into the forest, and leave him there - alone. He is required to sit on a stump the entire night and never take off the blindfold until the first rays of the morning sun shine through the blindfold.
He is alone. He is totally by himself. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he has become "a Man". He cannot tell the other boys of this experience. Each young brave must come into his own manhood.
One particular young brave was entering this rite of passage. He was terrified. He could hear all kinds of noise. Wild beasts were all around him. Maybe some human would hurt him. The wind blew the grass and earth and it shook his stump. But he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could be a man.
Finally, after a terrifying night, the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he saw his father - sitting on the stump next to him - at watch. He had been there the entire night.
We are never alone. Even when we do not know it, our Father is protecting us. Watching us. Watching over us. He is sitting on the stump beside us.
All we have to do is reach out to Him.
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5
"I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you" Deut. 31:6 --Author Unknown
************************************************** *********
Every Person Has A Job To Do
Ephesians 4:11 - The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers. (NRSV)
I saw Paul's words to the church at Ephesus literally demonstrated in real twenty-first century life today, with full colour and complete sound. It seems to me that our Scripture, roughly paraphrased, says, "God ain't created nobody to do nothing! He has a job for each person." We may claim to be the wrong gender, the wrong age, or born on the wrong side of the tracks, or we may use one of a few dozen other excuses to avoid meeting the requirements of the job, but Paul says that Jesus ascended so that He might fill us with the gifts, which he then lists in today's verse. I'm convinced that if Paul were writing today, his list would be much longer.
The demonstration of this verse came while I watched with great interest as a concrete company poured the driveway for my neighbour's house. It was a work of art. Each worker had a job to do, and he did it. Each did not worry about the work of his friend. He did his own work. One man guided the cement chute from the truck. He moved it so that exactly the right amount of cement got to every area of the new driveway. Two men used cement hoes to semi-level the fresh cement. Another man followed with a straightedge that reached across the driveway, thus allowing him to level the cement. Still another followed with a long-handled (18-20 feet) trowel that reached all the way across the driveway without his having to walk in the wet cement, so he could put a nice pre-finish on the driveway.
We may be young or old. We may be rich or living on a meagre income. We may be female or male. God has a place for us in the work of His kingdom that will bless and enrich our lives. If we are physically handicapped, what an opportunity to do our work as prayer team members!
Prayer: O God, every one of us has a place in Your kingdom's work. Help us all to find our places. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. --Virgil Lee
************************************************** *********
The Dusty Doll
"I want to ask you something, Mom," said Emily hesitantly as her mother tucked her into bed one evening. "I gave my life to Jesus last summer, but it seems like I'm still always doing something wrong-like getting so mad at Jason tonight. When I do stuff like that, I ask God to forgive me, but . . . what if I forget to ask Him-or what if I don't even think about the fact that I've sinned?" She paused. "Then am I still saved?"
Mom sat down on the bed. "Jesus' death paid for all your sins," she said. "God will never disown you if you've put your trust in Him."
"You're sure?" asked Emily.
"I'm sure," said Mom. She pointed to a porcelain doll on Emily's dresser. "I see that you've cleaned up that doll," she said. "Tell me again where it came from."
"You know where I got it, Mom," replied Emily. "Mrs. Knott found it when she was cleaning out her basement last week. She said I could have it-she was just going to throw it away. I cleaned it and dressed it in new clothes." Emily grinned. "It looks great now, don't you think?"
"Yes, it does." Mom nodded. "It's beautiful, so enjoy it while you can. Your room sometimes gets pretty dusty, you know. Before long, your doll will be covered with dust, and then I suppose you'll throw it out."
"Throw it out!" exclaimed Emily. "Are you kidding? It could never look any worse than when I got it! It was all covered with dust and bugs and spider webs then, but I didn't throw it away. And I sure wouldn't ever throw it away after all the work I did to make it look good! I'll just clean it whenever it needs it. I want this doll."
Mom smiled. "I thought you'd say that," she said. "Honey, don't you see that God loves you much more than you love that doll? Your life was full of sin, but Jesus died to save you from it. When you put your trust in Him, He made you part of His family. He's not going to just 'throw you away' now-not after all He's done for you."
MEMORY VERSE: Neither death nor life . . . things present nor things to come . . . shall be able to separate us from the love of God. Romans 8:39
HOW ABOUT YOU? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior from sin? If you're not sure, won't you trust Him today? God says that if you have received Jesus into your life, nothing can ever separate you from His love. If you're trusting in Him, don't worry about losing your salvation. Believe God's promises and know the peace of forgiveness and the joy of fellowship with Him.
THE KEY: Salvation is forever --Keys for Kids Daily Devotional
************************************************** *********
DAILY RESOLUTION
At the beginning of a New Year, a high school principal decided to post his teachers' New Year's resolutions on the bulletin board.
As the teachers gathered around the bulletin board, a great commotion started. One of the teachers was complaining. "Why weren't my resolutions posted?" She was throwing such a temper tantrum that the principal hurried to his office to see if he had overlooked her resolutions. Sure enough, he had mislaid them on his desk. As he read her resolutions he was astounded.
This teacher's first resolution was not to let little things upset her in the New Year.
Maybe this is a good time to see how you're coming on your New Year's resolutions (if indeed you made any). The above story demonstrates why making resolutions may not be such a good thing and, in fact, may be detrimental to our spiritual growth. What happens when we make resolutions? At some point, the resolution is likely going to be broken. It may be a matter of days, weeks, or months, but eventually we tend to falter.
If your resolution involves dieting, there will likely come a day when you'll sneak a piece of fudge. If your resolution is quitting smoking, there will likely come a day when you'll reach for that cigarette you've been craving. If your resolution is reading the Bible every day, there will likely come a day when things are so hectic that you miss your reading.
And once the resolution is broken, it becomes even easier for it to crumble further. The incentive that kept you going ("I've maintained my commitment to this point") is now gone. One slip leads to two which quickly leads to three, and before long we have the attitude, "I've messed up so much that it's not even worth continuing to try." So what is there left to do? For most of us, we set our sights on January 1, 2009 and determine when that day rolls arounds, we'll try it again ("and NEXT time I'll do it!").
Allow me to suggest an alternative. Instead of yearly resolutions, what if we made daily resolutions? Begin each day with this prayer:
"Father, today I want to live for you. I want to dedicate to you my time, my energy, my passion and my resources. Today, I will seek to add one quality that will make me more like You. Today, I will seek to eliminate something in my life that doesn't please you. I will seek to be more conscious of You in my life. I will try to be more appreciative of the blessings I receive from Your hand, and I will look for opportunities to show You glory in the way I deal with people and in the way I react to situations I face."
Make it your resolution to end the day a little bit closer to God than you began. The goal is spiritual growth...
"...Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ...speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head -- Christ." (Ephesians 4:14,16) Have a great day! --Alan Smith
************************************************** *********
I Trust In Your Unfailing Love
Do these words from David ring true for you today?
"O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way?
How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
Don't let my enemies gloat, saying, 'We have defeated him!'
Don't let them rejoice at my downfall." (Psalm 13:1-4, New Living Translation)
Are you feeling forgotten by God? Do you find yourself wondering where He is while you are in the midst of battle and struggle and hurt and disappointment? Are you wishing God would do something to help, but not sure your prayers are getting through?
That's apparently what David was feeling. Alone. Forgotten. Ignored. Weak. Almost defeated. Constantly hassled by his enemies.
Those are not uncommon feelings, even for the strong of faith. Sometimes life is like that. We experience attacks from all sides, and it seems that trouble and distress is around every corner. During those days of anxiety and sorry it is easy to fall into the trap of believing that it will always be this way. We settle into the mindset that life will never get any better. When these times continue for long periods there is the potential to lose hope.
Those are dangerous times. Those are times when we must consider our steps very carefully and wisely. Nothing would please our enemy more than for us to lose hope, to give up, to accept defeat, and to lose the joy found in the Lord. Like David, you may be almost there. If so, do what David did.
In verse 4 David is dreading how his enemies will gloat and rejoice over his defeat. Then, suddenly as it often does in the Psalms, the tone changes. He looks above his fears and throws himself into the arms of the Lord.
"But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me." (Psalm 13:5-6, New Living Translation)
We must do the same. When we sink low into the despair and hopelessness of what seems certain defeat, we must look up to the Lord and say, "But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me."
That's the power of our faith. That's a test of our faith. That's what can happen when we draw near to God. If we bring it all to Him and leave it there, through His grace and mercy He will enable us to sing again. He will rescue us.
Here's another version of David's prayer: "Lord, my life is hard right now. Nothing is turning out like I thought it would. Instead of victory, I'm experiencing defeat on every side. It seems like the Enemy is winning all the battles. I feel like a loser and I feel like my enemies see me as a loser. I'm not sure how long I can go on like this. Sometimes, when it gets really bad, I become afraid. I feel like You have left me here all alone. But, I know that's not true, because I trust You. I know You will never leave me. And I believe that one day I will again sing and rejoice because You are good to me. I trust in Your unfailing love." --Tom
************************************************** *********
He Cares For You
"Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7, NIV)
What a wonderful invitation from the Lord! What a message of encouragement!
Let's break it down into two parts.
"Cast all your anxiety on him . . . "
Not some of your anxiety. Not just the major things that weigh on your mind. It does not say simply the things that you feel you cannot handle on your own. The passage says, "Cast all your cares on him."
All your cares.
The concerns you have for your children.
The concerns you have for your parents, and about your parents.
Your marriage.
Your health.
Your finances.
Your work.
Your relationships.
Your sins.
Your guilt.
Your shame.
Your friends and all the concerns you have for them.
Cast all your cares on him.
Why?
"Because he cares for you."
He cares for you. God cares for you.
The God who created the heavens and the earth cares for you. The God who created you cares for you. The God who gave you life cares for you. The God who sent His one and only Son to die for you cares for you.
He cares for you.
God cares for you.
So, cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. --Tom
************************************************** *********
Small Straws In A Soft Wind by Marsha Burns
Watch for extraordinary resistance as you begin to tear down the strongholds against you. The powers of darkness will stubbornly hang on to the last bastion of strength used to control your circumstances and hinder your progress. Be strong in the Lord and push through to victory. Refuse to give up when you sense the opposition of these dark forces. I am with you to cause you to triumph, says the Lord.
2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
If you will cooperate with the work of My Spirit in your life, I will bring you to a new level of revelation, gifting, and blessing. Be sensitive to My spiritual nudging. Yield to the urge to take action, but make sure that it is truly the unction of My Spirit. You must silence your own flesh so that you are not moved by your carnal desires. In this season I will teach you how to walk in the Spirit so that you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Let Me lead you, says the Lord.
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world––the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life––is not of the Father but is of the world.
You've heard the axiom "what goes around comes around." And, I tell you that it is indeed true because whatever you sow you will also reap. Now is a good time to change your mind and attitudes by which you have found fault, criticized and judged others. For, to the same degree that you have done this to others, it will be come back to you. It is a law that cannot be broken. But, it is also not too late to turn from this wickedness. Righteousness is found in loving others as I have loved you, says the Lord. Extend the same mercy that has been given to you.
Luke 6:37 "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Lift up your head to see the good that I am doing to bring you out of established patterns, for you cannot progress until these corrections are made. You must see in the realm of the Spirit to begin to understand the value of the tests and trials that you are now enduring. As long as you can only see with your physical eyes instead of your spiritual eyes you will become a victim of your circumstances and will only grumble and complain as you dump down into self-pity. I tell you truly that this attitude is not only of the flesh but is also demonic in nature. But you, beloved, belong to Me. It would be in your best interest to rise up and rejoice in this important work, says the Lord.
2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
************************************************** *********
Oh Yes He Did
Jesus knew me before I was born.
He said that in His word
Oh yes He did
He watched over me as I grew
With all the protection and provisions He made for me
Oh yes He did
He came into this world to save my soul
Asking me to accept Him and to be bold
Oh yes He did
He went to the cross so I would not be lost
When He arose on that third day, it was for me
Oh Yes he did
When He said,"come follow me."
He wanted me to be all that I could be
Oh yes He did
He fed five thousand with only a small amount of bread and very few fish
Oh yes He did
He touched a dead child and told them to walk
Oh yes He did
He asked me to witness to the world To be His voice, His hands and His feet
Oh yes He did
Will you follow this mighty God today?
Oh I hope you will
Sarah Berthelson
************************************************** *********
Teach me Lord
When fear and darkness cause my soul to grieve,
When hope is gone and I have lost my way
and deepest doubt upon my mind does lay
Come to me, Lord,
and teach me to believe.
When hatred rains like hail from skies above,
and Satan's legions fall upon my back
and in my heart compassion do I lack,
Come to me, Lord,
and teach me to have love.
When storms descend upon me without cease
and sorrow throws a veil across the sun;
When life is such there's nowhere left to run,
Come to me, Lord,
and help me to find peace.
And when I feel my faith
slipping away
Come hold me, Lord,
teach me once more to pray.
--Linda E. Newman
************************************************** *********
You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Colossians 3:7-10
"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:9-12
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:7-8, 10
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
************************************************** *********
Walking In The Light
Psalm 118:5 - In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he answered by setting me free. (NIV)
One evening, I heard sounds coming from our attic -- "pit-a-pat, pit-a-pat" -- back and forth across the ceiling. I went out to the garage, which is attached to the house, to investigate. There, near the roof, was a very small opening, with electrical wires, leading to our attic. This was probably the creature's entrance. I prayed, "Please, Jesus, help this creature to find its way out, so it doesn't die up there or do damage." I was also hoping I wouldn't have to go up there and retrieve it myself. Besides, I knew God can do a better job than I. The next morning, my husband decided to go out to the garage, and he pushed the garage opener. The light came on inside the garage. God's little creature must have seen the light from its dark place in the attic, and by following it, this little sparrow was set free once again.
Just like that little sparrow, we sometimes find ourselves in a dark place. We become scared and confused while trying to find our way out. God doesn't want us, His children, to be afraid. He gave us a way out of this darkness. All we have to do is believe and follow Jesus Christ, the Light. We will be set free.
John 8:12 - When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (NIV)
Prayer: Dear God, please help us not to be afraid when we find ourselves in a dark place. Guide us always with Your wisdom and love. Help us to see and walk in Your light, trusting You always that You will make everything right. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. --Betty Carter
************************************************** *********
Hope for Banged-Up Lives by Ron Hutchcraft
It was #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and then a major motion picture - the story of one of the most famous race horses of all time, Seabiscuit. While many of us may not be excited about horse racing, the story, set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, illustrates some things pretty inspiring. Seabiscuit was the son of a champion but definitely not like his father. He had been forced to run with better horses so they would gain confidence by beating him. When he raced, he did what he was trained to do - lose. Because of the poor treatment Seabiscuit received, he became an angry, almost uncontrollable horse. Until he was given a chance by a trainer that many considered to be too old and a young man most thought was too big to be a jockey - a man blind in one eye and bitter from his parents' abandonment.
But Seabiscuit thrived in the care of people who believed in him and became one of the greatest horses of all time, along with his jockey. The trainer sees in the horse something that others have missed. He says when Seabiscuit's eventual owner is deciding whether to buy this apparent loser, "You don't throw a life away just because it's been banged up a little." And when the trainer wants to fire his jockey, the owner reminds him, "You don't throw a life away just because it's been banged up a little."
Maybe you're one of those "banged-up lives." You've been treated poorly, you've been made to feel that you never measure up, that you're a loser, people have undervalued you, passed you by, and maybe you've ended up pretty hard and angry inside. But there is someone who has never thrown away a banged up life, who sees beyond what's on the outside to the wounds on the inside and the potential He built into you when He made you. Jesus is your hope of a new beginning where the future doesn't have to be just an extension of a broken past.
In Isaiah 61:1, the Bible says of Jesus, "The Lord... has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners... to provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes - a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." Jesus has done that for millions of banged up people for two thousand years. He can do it for you because He died on the cross for every sin ever done by you or against you. The Bible says of His death on the cross: "He carried our sorrows... He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities... and by His wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:4-5).
With someone who loves you so unconditionally, so completely, you don't have to ever again trash yourself, trash other people, or trash your future. You can tear up that name tag that identifies you as "victim" and replace it with the new identity Jesus gives you, "child of the King." If you'll surrender the steering wheel of your life and put the rest of your life in the hands of the man who died for you.
If you've never done that and you want to begin your own personal relationship with Jesus, would you tell Him that right now with all your heart. Jesus, who's God's one and only Son, sacrificed Himself to become the ultimate banged-up life for you. However much you have been betrayed, you can trust Him. However much you have been hurt and rejected, you can count on His "never leave you" love. And your new beginning can start this very day.
************************************************** *********
AN EVENING PRAYER
By C. Maude Battersby
If I have wounded any soul today,
If I have caused one foot to go astray,
If I have walked in my own willful way,
Dear Lord, forgive!
If I have uttered idle words or vain,
If I have turned aside from want or pain,
Lest I myself shall suffer through the strain,
Dear Lord, forgive!
If I have been perverse or hard, or cold,
If I have longed for shelter in Thy fold,
When Thou hast given me some fort to hold,
Dear Lord, forgive!
Forgive the sins I have confessed to Thee;
Forgive the secret sins I do not see;
O guide me, love me and my keeper be,
Dear Lord, Amen.
************************************************** *********
Read Through The Bible
Exodus 15
The Song of Moses and Miriam
1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: "I will sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea. 2 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. 3 The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name. 4 Pharaoh's chariots and his army he has hurled into the sea. The best of Pharaoh's officers are drowned in the Red Sea. 5 The deep waters have covered them; they sank to the depths like a stone. 6 "Your right hand, O LORD, was majestic in power. Your right hand, O LORD, shattered the enemy. 7 In the greatness of your majesty you threw down those who opposed you. You unleashed your burning anger; it consumed them like stubble. 8 By the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up. The surging waters stood firm like a wall; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea. 9 "The enemy boasted, 'I will pursue, I will overtake them. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword and my hand will destroy them.' 10 But you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters. 11 "Who among the gods is like you, O LORD ? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? 12 You stretched out your right hand and the earth swallowed them. 13 "In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. 14 The nations will hear and tremble; anguish will grip the people of Philistia. 15 The chiefs of Edom will be terrified, the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling, the people of Canaan will melt away; 16 terror and dread will fall upon them. By the power of your arm they will be as still as a stone—until your people pass by, O LORD, until the people you bought pass by. 17 You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance—the place, O LORD, you made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, your hands established. 18 The LORD will reign for ever and ever." 19 When Pharaoh's horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. 20 Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. 21 Miriam sang to them: "Sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea."
The Waters of Marah and Elim
22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?" 25 Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the LORD made a decree and a law for them, and there he tested them. 26 He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you." 27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.
************************************************** *********
Dear God, Even before we pray you know all our needs. Thank you for your promises and your presence. Help us to be serene in our faith. Thank you for all that you have given us. Help us to give back to you by giving to others. We give thanks that you pour out your grace on us. Help us to walk close to you and lean on you each day. Give us the courage to make necessary changes in ourselves that bring us closer to others and to you. Guide us to a lonely or hurting person, and give us words to encourage them. Renew our strength so we can persevere. Instill in us the desire to work for your kingdom and to sow with joy. Thank you for providing today what we need to sustain life .As Jesus taught us, we pray, "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Wherever you are in life, whatever you've done, you can begin again. If you do not have Jesus in your life and wish to ask Jesus into your life please go to this link now to do so: http://www.cyberrecovery.net/forums/showthread.php?t=95 . Jesus is calling you to live a life that matters.
God hears and answers every prayer.
Instead of asking God to change our situation, we should ask God to change us.
GRACE is a gift we receive from God.
God's word exhorts us to reach out to those with anxious hearts and let them know that we support and love them.
Trusting in God's unfaltering presence, believers can face every morning with hope.
We come to know the will of God for our lives by prayerfully reading and studying scripture and by reflecting on the wisdom scripture sheds upon our lives.
As faithful sowers, we trust God for the harvest.
************************************************** *********
NEVER ALONE
There is a legend about the "rite of passage" for Cherokee Indians. The father would blindfold his young son, take him into the forest, and leave him there - alone. He is required to sit on a stump the entire night and never take off the blindfold until the first rays of the morning sun shine through the blindfold.
He is alone. He is totally by himself. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he has become "a Man". He cannot tell the other boys of this experience. Each young brave must come into his own manhood.
One particular young brave was entering this rite of passage. He was terrified. He could hear all kinds of noise. Wild beasts were all around him. Maybe some human would hurt him. The wind blew the grass and earth and it shook his stump. But he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could be a man.
Finally, after a terrifying night, the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he saw his father - sitting on the stump next to him - at watch. He had been there the entire night.
We are never alone. Even when we do not know it, our Father is protecting us. Watching us. Watching over us. He is sitting on the stump beside us.
All we have to do is reach out to Him.
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5
"I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:20
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you" Deut. 31:6 --Author Unknown
************************************************** *********
Every Person Has A Job To Do
Ephesians 4:11 - The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers. (NRSV)
I saw Paul's words to the church at Ephesus literally demonstrated in real twenty-first century life today, with full colour and complete sound. It seems to me that our Scripture, roughly paraphrased, says, "God ain't created nobody to do nothing! He has a job for each person." We may claim to be the wrong gender, the wrong age, or born on the wrong side of the tracks, or we may use one of a few dozen other excuses to avoid meeting the requirements of the job, but Paul says that Jesus ascended so that He might fill us with the gifts, which he then lists in today's verse. I'm convinced that if Paul were writing today, his list would be much longer.
The demonstration of this verse came while I watched with great interest as a concrete company poured the driveway for my neighbour's house. It was a work of art. Each worker had a job to do, and he did it. Each did not worry about the work of his friend. He did his own work. One man guided the cement chute from the truck. He moved it so that exactly the right amount of cement got to every area of the new driveway. Two men used cement hoes to semi-level the fresh cement. Another man followed with a straightedge that reached across the driveway, thus allowing him to level the cement. Still another followed with a long-handled (18-20 feet) trowel that reached all the way across the driveway without his having to walk in the wet cement, so he could put a nice pre-finish on the driveway.
We may be young or old. We may be rich or living on a meagre income. We may be female or male. God has a place for us in the work of His kingdom that will bless and enrich our lives. If we are physically handicapped, what an opportunity to do our work as prayer team members!
Prayer: O God, every one of us has a place in Your kingdom's work. Help us all to find our places. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. --Virgil Lee
************************************************** *********
The Dusty Doll
"I want to ask you something, Mom," said Emily hesitantly as her mother tucked her into bed one evening. "I gave my life to Jesus last summer, but it seems like I'm still always doing something wrong-like getting so mad at Jason tonight. When I do stuff like that, I ask God to forgive me, but . . . what if I forget to ask Him-or what if I don't even think about the fact that I've sinned?" She paused. "Then am I still saved?"
Mom sat down on the bed. "Jesus' death paid for all your sins," she said. "God will never disown you if you've put your trust in Him."
"You're sure?" asked Emily.
"I'm sure," said Mom. She pointed to a porcelain doll on Emily's dresser. "I see that you've cleaned up that doll," she said. "Tell me again where it came from."
"You know where I got it, Mom," replied Emily. "Mrs. Knott found it when she was cleaning out her basement last week. She said I could have it-she was just going to throw it away. I cleaned it and dressed it in new clothes." Emily grinned. "It looks great now, don't you think?"
"Yes, it does." Mom nodded. "It's beautiful, so enjoy it while you can. Your room sometimes gets pretty dusty, you know. Before long, your doll will be covered with dust, and then I suppose you'll throw it out."
"Throw it out!" exclaimed Emily. "Are you kidding? It could never look any worse than when I got it! It was all covered with dust and bugs and spider webs then, but I didn't throw it away. And I sure wouldn't ever throw it away after all the work I did to make it look good! I'll just clean it whenever it needs it. I want this doll."
Mom smiled. "I thought you'd say that," she said. "Honey, don't you see that God loves you much more than you love that doll? Your life was full of sin, but Jesus died to save you from it. When you put your trust in Him, He made you part of His family. He's not going to just 'throw you away' now-not after all He's done for you."
MEMORY VERSE: Neither death nor life . . . things present nor things to come . . . shall be able to separate us from the love of God. Romans 8:39
HOW ABOUT YOU? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior from sin? If you're not sure, won't you trust Him today? God says that if you have received Jesus into your life, nothing can ever separate you from His love. If you're trusting in Him, don't worry about losing your salvation. Believe God's promises and know the peace of forgiveness and the joy of fellowship with Him.
THE KEY: Salvation is forever --Keys for Kids Daily Devotional
************************************************** *********
DAILY RESOLUTION
At the beginning of a New Year, a high school principal decided to post his teachers' New Year's resolutions on the bulletin board.
As the teachers gathered around the bulletin board, a great commotion started. One of the teachers was complaining. "Why weren't my resolutions posted?" She was throwing such a temper tantrum that the principal hurried to his office to see if he had overlooked her resolutions. Sure enough, he had mislaid them on his desk. As he read her resolutions he was astounded.
This teacher's first resolution was not to let little things upset her in the New Year.
Maybe this is a good time to see how you're coming on your New Year's resolutions (if indeed you made any). The above story demonstrates why making resolutions may not be such a good thing and, in fact, may be detrimental to our spiritual growth. What happens when we make resolutions? At some point, the resolution is likely going to be broken. It may be a matter of days, weeks, or months, but eventually we tend to falter.
If your resolution involves dieting, there will likely come a day when you'll sneak a piece of fudge. If your resolution is quitting smoking, there will likely come a day when you'll reach for that cigarette you've been craving. If your resolution is reading the Bible every day, there will likely come a day when things are so hectic that you miss your reading.
And once the resolution is broken, it becomes even easier for it to crumble further. The incentive that kept you going ("I've maintained my commitment to this point") is now gone. One slip leads to two which quickly leads to three, and before long we have the attitude, "I've messed up so much that it's not even worth continuing to try." So what is there left to do? For most of us, we set our sights on January 1, 2009 and determine when that day rolls arounds, we'll try it again ("and NEXT time I'll do it!").
Allow me to suggest an alternative. Instead of yearly resolutions, what if we made daily resolutions? Begin each day with this prayer:
"Father, today I want to live for you. I want to dedicate to you my time, my energy, my passion and my resources. Today, I will seek to add one quality that will make me more like You. Today, I will seek to eliminate something in my life that doesn't please you. I will seek to be more conscious of You in my life. I will try to be more appreciative of the blessings I receive from Your hand, and I will look for opportunities to show You glory in the way I deal with people and in the way I react to situations I face."
Make it your resolution to end the day a little bit closer to God than you began. The goal is spiritual growth...
"...Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ...speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head -- Christ." (Ephesians 4:14,16) Have a great day! --Alan Smith
************************************************** *********
I Trust In Your Unfailing Love
Do these words from David ring true for you today?
"O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way?
How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
Don't let my enemies gloat, saying, 'We have defeated him!'
Don't let them rejoice at my downfall." (Psalm 13:1-4, New Living Translation)
Are you feeling forgotten by God? Do you find yourself wondering where He is while you are in the midst of battle and struggle and hurt and disappointment? Are you wishing God would do something to help, but not sure your prayers are getting through?
That's apparently what David was feeling. Alone. Forgotten. Ignored. Weak. Almost defeated. Constantly hassled by his enemies.
Those are not uncommon feelings, even for the strong of faith. Sometimes life is like that. We experience attacks from all sides, and it seems that trouble and distress is around every corner. During those days of anxiety and sorry it is easy to fall into the trap of believing that it will always be this way. We settle into the mindset that life will never get any better. When these times continue for long periods there is the potential to lose hope.
Those are dangerous times. Those are times when we must consider our steps very carefully and wisely. Nothing would please our enemy more than for us to lose hope, to give up, to accept defeat, and to lose the joy found in the Lord. Like David, you may be almost there. If so, do what David did.
In verse 4 David is dreading how his enemies will gloat and rejoice over his defeat. Then, suddenly as it often does in the Psalms, the tone changes. He looks above his fears and throws himself into the arms of the Lord.
"But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me." (Psalm 13:5-6, New Living Translation)
We must do the same. When we sink low into the despair and hopelessness of what seems certain defeat, we must look up to the Lord and say, "But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me."
That's the power of our faith. That's a test of our faith. That's what can happen when we draw near to God. If we bring it all to Him and leave it there, through His grace and mercy He will enable us to sing again. He will rescue us.
Here's another version of David's prayer: "Lord, my life is hard right now. Nothing is turning out like I thought it would. Instead of victory, I'm experiencing defeat on every side. It seems like the Enemy is winning all the battles. I feel like a loser and I feel like my enemies see me as a loser. I'm not sure how long I can go on like this. Sometimes, when it gets really bad, I become afraid. I feel like You have left me here all alone. But, I know that's not true, because I trust You. I know You will never leave me. And I believe that one day I will again sing and rejoice because You are good to me. I trust in Your unfailing love." --Tom
************************************************** *********
He Cares For You
"Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7, NIV)
What a wonderful invitation from the Lord! What a message of encouragement!
Let's break it down into two parts.
"Cast all your anxiety on him . . . "
Not some of your anxiety. Not just the major things that weigh on your mind. It does not say simply the things that you feel you cannot handle on your own. The passage says, "Cast all your cares on him."
All your cares.
The concerns you have for your children.
The concerns you have for your parents, and about your parents.
Your marriage.
Your health.
Your finances.
Your work.
Your relationships.
Your sins.
Your guilt.
Your shame.
Your friends and all the concerns you have for them.
Cast all your cares on him.
Why?
"Because he cares for you."
He cares for you. God cares for you.
The God who created the heavens and the earth cares for you. The God who created you cares for you. The God who gave you life cares for you. The God who sent His one and only Son to die for you cares for you.
He cares for you.
God cares for you.
So, cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. --Tom
************************************************** *********
Small Straws In A Soft Wind by Marsha Burns
Watch for extraordinary resistance as you begin to tear down the strongholds against you. The powers of darkness will stubbornly hang on to the last bastion of strength used to control your circumstances and hinder your progress. Be strong in the Lord and push through to victory. Refuse to give up when you sense the opposition of these dark forces. I am with you to cause you to triumph, says the Lord.
2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
If you will cooperate with the work of My Spirit in your life, I will bring you to a new level of revelation, gifting, and blessing. Be sensitive to My spiritual nudging. Yield to the urge to take action, but make sure that it is truly the unction of My Spirit. You must silence your own flesh so that you are not moved by your carnal desires. In this season I will teach you how to walk in the Spirit so that you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Let Me lead you, says the Lord.
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world––the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life––is not of the Father but is of the world.
You've heard the axiom "what goes around comes around." And, I tell you that it is indeed true because whatever you sow you will also reap. Now is a good time to change your mind and attitudes by which you have found fault, criticized and judged others. For, to the same degree that you have done this to others, it will be come back to you. It is a law that cannot be broken. But, it is also not too late to turn from this wickedness. Righteousness is found in loving others as I have loved you, says the Lord. Extend the same mercy that has been given to you.
Luke 6:37 "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Lift up your head to see the good that I am doing to bring you out of established patterns, for you cannot progress until these corrections are made. You must see in the realm of the Spirit to begin to understand the value of the tests and trials that you are now enduring. As long as you can only see with your physical eyes instead of your spiritual eyes you will become a victim of your circumstances and will only grumble and complain as you dump down into self-pity. I tell you truly that this attitude is not only of the flesh but is also demonic in nature. But you, beloved, belong to Me. It would be in your best interest to rise up and rejoice in this important work, says the Lord.
2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
************************************************** *********
Oh Yes He Did
Jesus knew me before I was born.
He said that in His word
Oh yes He did
He watched over me as I grew
With all the protection and provisions He made for me
Oh yes He did
He came into this world to save my soul
Asking me to accept Him and to be bold
Oh yes He did
He went to the cross so I would not be lost
When He arose on that third day, it was for me
Oh Yes he did
When He said,"come follow me."
He wanted me to be all that I could be
Oh yes He did
He fed five thousand with only a small amount of bread and very few fish
Oh yes He did
He touched a dead child and told them to walk
Oh yes He did
He asked me to witness to the world To be His voice, His hands and His feet
Oh yes He did
Will you follow this mighty God today?
Oh I hope you will
Sarah Berthelson
************************************************** *********
Teach me Lord
When fear and darkness cause my soul to grieve,
When hope is gone and I have lost my way
and deepest doubt upon my mind does lay
Come to me, Lord,
and teach me to believe.
When hatred rains like hail from skies above,
and Satan's legions fall upon my back
and in my heart compassion do I lack,
Come to me, Lord,
and teach me to have love.
When storms descend upon me without cease
and sorrow throws a veil across the sun;
When life is such there's nowhere left to run,
Come to me, Lord,
and help me to find peace.
And when I feel my faith
slipping away
Come hold me, Lord,
teach me once more to pray.
--Linda E. Newman
************************************************** *********
You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Colossians 3:7-10
"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:9-12
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:7-8, 10
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
************************************************** *********
Walking In The Light
Psalm 118:5 - In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he answered by setting me free. (NIV)
One evening, I heard sounds coming from our attic -- "pit-a-pat, pit-a-pat" -- back and forth across the ceiling. I went out to the garage, which is attached to the house, to investigate. There, near the roof, was a very small opening, with electrical wires, leading to our attic. This was probably the creature's entrance. I prayed, "Please, Jesus, help this creature to find its way out, so it doesn't die up there or do damage." I was also hoping I wouldn't have to go up there and retrieve it myself. Besides, I knew God can do a better job than I. The next morning, my husband decided to go out to the garage, and he pushed the garage opener. The light came on inside the garage. God's little creature must have seen the light from its dark place in the attic, and by following it, this little sparrow was set free once again.
Just like that little sparrow, we sometimes find ourselves in a dark place. We become scared and confused while trying to find our way out. God doesn't want us, His children, to be afraid. He gave us a way out of this darkness. All we have to do is believe and follow Jesus Christ, the Light. We will be set free.
John 8:12 - When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (NIV)
Prayer: Dear God, please help us not to be afraid when we find ourselves in a dark place. Guide us always with Your wisdom and love. Help us to see and walk in Your light, trusting You always that You will make everything right. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. --Betty Carter
************************************************** *********
Hope for Banged-Up Lives by Ron Hutchcraft
It was #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and then a major motion picture - the story of one of the most famous race horses of all time, Seabiscuit. While many of us may not be excited about horse racing, the story, set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, illustrates some things pretty inspiring. Seabiscuit was the son of a champion but definitely not like his father. He had been forced to run with better horses so they would gain confidence by beating him. When he raced, he did what he was trained to do - lose. Because of the poor treatment Seabiscuit received, he became an angry, almost uncontrollable horse. Until he was given a chance by a trainer that many considered to be too old and a young man most thought was too big to be a jockey - a man blind in one eye and bitter from his parents' abandonment.
But Seabiscuit thrived in the care of people who believed in him and became one of the greatest horses of all time, along with his jockey. The trainer sees in the horse something that others have missed. He says when Seabiscuit's eventual owner is deciding whether to buy this apparent loser, "You don't throw a life away just because it's been banged up a little." And when the trainer wants to fire his jockey, the owner reminds him, "You don't throw a life away just because it's been banged up a little."
Maybe you're one of those "banged-up lives." You've been treated poorly, you've been made to feel that you never measure up, that you're a loser, people have undervalued you, passed you by, and maybe you've ended up pretty hard and angry inside. But there is someone who has never thrown away a banged up life, who sees beyond what's on the outside to the wounds on the inside and the potential He built into you when He made you. Jesus is your hope of a new beginning where the future doesn't have to be just an extension of a broken past.
In Isaiah 61:1, the Bible says of Jesus, "The Lord... has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners... to provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes - a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." Jesus has done that for millions of banged up people for two thousand years. He can do it for you because He died on the cross for every sin ever done by you or against you. The Bible says of His death on the cross: "He carried our sorrows... He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities... and by His wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:4-5).
With someone who loves you so unconditionally, so completely, you don't have to ever again trash yourself, trash other people, or trash your future. You can tear up that name tag that identifies you as "victim" and replace it with the new identity Jesus gives you, "child of the King." If you'll surrender the steering wheel of your life and put the rest of your life in the hands of the man who died for you.
If you've never done that and you want to begin your own personal relationship with Jesus, would you tell Him that right now with all your heart. Jesus, who's God's one and only Son, sacrificed Himself to become the ultimate banged-up life for you. However much you have been betrayed, you can trust Him. However much you have been hurt and rejected, you can count on His "never leave you" love. And your new beginning can start this very day.
************************************************** *********
AN EVENING PRAYER
By C. Maude Battersby
If I have wounded any soul today,
If I have caused one foot to go astray,
If I have walked in my own willful way,
Dear Lord, forgive!
If I have uttered idle words or vain,
If I have turned aside from want or pain,
Lest I myself shall suffer through the strain,
Dear Lord, forgive!
If I have been perverse or hard, or cold,
If I have longed for shelter in Thy fold,
When Thou hast given me some fort to hold,
Dear Lord, forgive!
Forgive the sins I have confessed to Thee;
Forgive the secret sins I do not see;
O guide me, love me and my keeper be,
Dear Lord, Amen.
************************************************** *********
Read Through The Bible
Exodus 15
The Song of Moses and Miriam
1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: "I will sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea. 2 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. 3 The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name. 4 Pharaoh's chariots and his army he has hurled into the sea. The best of Pharaoh's officers are drowned in the Red Sea. 5 The deep waters have covered them; they sank to the depths like a stone. 6 "Your right hand, O LORD, was majestic in power. Your right hand, O LORD, shattered the enemy. 7 In the greatness of your majesty you threw down those who opposed you. You unleashed your burning anger; it consumed them like stubble. 8 By the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up. The surging waters stood firm like a wall; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea. 9 "The enemy boasted, 'I will pursue, I will overtake them. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword and my hand will destroy them.' 10 But you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters. 11 "Who among the gods is like you, O LORD ? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? 12 You stretched out your right hand and the earth swallowed them. 13 "In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. 14 The nations will hear and tremble; anguish will grip the people of Philistia. 15 The chiefs of Edom will be terrified, the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling, the people of Canaan will melt away; 16 terror and dread will fall upon them. By the power of your arm they will be as still as a stone—until your people pass by, O LORD, until the people you bought pass by. 17 You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance—the place, O LORD, you made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, your hands established. 18 The LORD will reign for ever and ever." 19 When Pharaoh's horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. 20 Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. 21 Miriam sang to them: "Sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea."
The Waters of Marah and Elim
22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?" 25 Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the LORD made a decree and a law for them, and there he tested them. 26 He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you." 27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.
************************************************** *********
Dear God, Even before we pray you know all our needs. Thank you for your promises and your presence. Help us to be serene in our faith. Thank you for all that you have given us. Help us to give back to you by giving to others. We give thanks that you pour out your grace on us. Help us to walk close to you and lean on you each day. Give us the courage to make necessary changes in ourselves that bring us closer to others and to you. Guide us to a lonely or hurting person, and give us words to encourage them. Renew our strength so we can persevere. Instill in us the desire to work for your kingdom and to sow with joy. Thank you for providing today what we need to sustain life .As Jesus taught us, we pray, "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Wherever you are in life, whatever you've done, you can begin again. If you do not have Jesus in your life and wish to ask Jesus into your life please go to this link now to do so: http://www.cyberrecovery.net/forums/showthread.php?t=95 . Jesus is calling you to live a life that matters.